On the House floor prior to the vote, Chairman Royce delivered the following remarks (as prepared for delivery):

“I want to thank the Ranking Member, the gentleman from New York, Mr. Engel, for working with me in a bipartisan manner to bring this important resolution to the floor today. And I appreciate the Leader for working with us to ensure this resolution was brought quickly to the House floor.

Today, we put Congress on record objecting to the recent U.N. Security Council Resolution that hurt our ally Israel and, I believe, puts an Israeli-Palestinian settlement of two states for two people further out of reach.

Mr. Speaker, the United States has long recognized that a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict can only come about through direct, bilateral negotiations between the two parties.

That’s why it is longstanding U.S. policy to veto the many one-sided or anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council that violate that principal.

But just the other week, the Obama Administration broke with this longstanding U.S. policy by failing to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334. This dangerous resolution effectively states that the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall – Judaism’s holiest site – are “occupied territory.”

Yes, the Western Wall.

It also lends legitimacy to efforts by the Palestinian Authority and its many sympathizers worldwide to put pressure on Israel through the UN and puts wind in the sails of the shameful Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Unquestionably, this U.N. Security Council action damages the prospects for peace. The resolution – and the bullying and harassment of Israel that it will spur – only happened for one reason – the Obama Administration let it happen.

And that went against the distinct warnings from this body. Mr. Engel and I engaged in letters and conversations with senior Administration officials, seeking their assurance that the United States would veto one-side anti-Israel resolutions. And in November, the House unanimously passed a resolution which warned the Administration against taking such last minute action.

With that resolution—H.Con.Res. 165—the House unanimously stated that “the United States Government should continue to oppose and veto United Nations Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to final status issues, or are one-sided and anti-Israel.”

Yet, the Administration rejected the call from Congress, and chose a course that will bring harm for years to come by failing to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

If the Palestinians want a lasting peace, they must accept that Israel, not the UN, is their negotiating partner. That means ending incitement to violence against Israelis in mosques, schools, newspapers and on TV.

It also means ending their “pay-to-slay” scheme. Since 2003, it has been Palestinian law to reward Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails with a monthly paycheck. That amounts to $300 million per year, by one estimate.

That’s why today’s action is so important – to demonstrate our united opposition to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 and call for its repeal; to head-off any more moves the Obama Administration might have in the next few days; and to provide the foundation for the next Administration to move forcefully to counteract its dangerous impact.”